AN INSURANCE TEST CASE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2011, 19 March 1914, Page 6

AN INSURANCE TEST CASE.

, DETACHED BUILDINGS. DID THE POLICY COVER THEM? _(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Napier, March 18. Somo months ago an addition at tho rear of the London Boarding House at Port Ahuriri was< burned down, and this resulted in a civil action before tho present sossion of tho Supremo Court, in which tho owner sued the Norwich Insurance Society for £278 12s. 6d., as the valuo of tho damage done to the structure. His Honour Mr. Justice- Edwards delivered judgment this afternoon, giving judgment to plaintiff for only £9 18s. —tho amount of damage done to the main building. His Honour reviewed the evidence and facts at length, pointing out that tho boardinghouse consisted of a main structure and an addition at the rear, which comprised tho kitchen, store-rcom, and diningroom. Ho held that tho erection at the back was a separate building, and it followed that, as there was only onebuilding mentioned in the policy, tho place burned was uninsured. The policy clearly excluded everything outside the four walls of the main structure ■•."*■' By permission of the Court, Mr. Sproule, counsel for the Insurauce Company, said that they felt bound to contest this claim -in tho interests of insurance companies generally. However, as the- plaintiff honestly believed that ljis policy of insurance covered the outbuilding which was partially destroyed by fire, the company had instructed him to offer plaintiff £234 45., provided that ho paid the costs, and plaintiff had accepted this..